Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com Rosamond too had changed color as she read. The letter
ran in this way:—
‘DEAR TERTIUS,—Don’t set your wife to write to me
when you have anything to ask. It is a roundabout whee-
dling sort of thing which I should not have credited you
with. I never choose to write to a woman on matters of busi-
ness. As to my supplying you with a thousand pounds, or
only half that sum, I can do nothing of the sort. My own
family drains me to the last penny. With two younger sons
and three daughters, I am not likely to have cash to spare.
You seem to have got through your own money pretty
quickly, and to have made a mess where you are; the sooner
you go somewhere else the better. But I have nothing to do
with men of your profession, and can’t help you there. I did
the best I could for you as guardian, and let you have your
own way in taking to medicine. You might have gone into
the army or the Church. Your money would have held out
for that, and there would have been a surer ladder before
you. Your uncle Charles has had a grudge against you for
not going into his profession, but not I. I have always wished
you well, but you must consider yourself on your own legs
entirely now.
Your affectionate uncle,
GODWIN LYDGATE.’
When Rosamond had finished reading the letter she sat
quite still, with her hands folded before her, restraining any
show of her keen disappointment, and intrenching her-
self in quiet passivity under her husband’s wrath Lydgate
paused in his movements, looked at her again, and said,